Sessions

New Caledonia has a unique fauna, with exceptionally high levels of endemism, most of which, however, remains unexplored. Microsnails (<5 mm) are particularly easily overlooked, and are therefore known from the archipelago only by historical records. Their fauna is now threatened by habitat loss. In my thesis, I revise the minute land snail genera Gastrocopta, Nesopupa, Pupisoma, Ptychopatula and Vertigo of New Caledonia. Ten species are recognised, including one new species described here: Nesopupa loyaltyensis Bata, Bouchet & Páll-Gergely sp. nov. Pupa lifouana Gassies, 1871 and Pupa obstructa Gassies, 1871 previously described from New Caledonia are shown to be junior synonyms of western European and North American species respectively, and are therefore not part of the New Caledonian fauna. Nesopupa novopommerana I. Rensch, 1932 is shown to be a junior synonym of N. moreleti (A. D. Brown, 1870). Pupa mariei Crosse, 1871 previously described from New Caledonia is treated as a taxon inquirendum. Furthermore, Pupisoma evada (Iredale, 1944) is transferred to the genus Ptychopatula Pilsbry, 1889.